Horseshoe game device with recessed stake areas

ABSTRACT

A game device of the horseshoe type comprising, a supported table having an elongated flat playing surface provided thereon adapted to have horseshoelike pieces slid thereon from one end to the other. A stake extends upwardly above the playing surface at each end thereof to present a scoring target for the person sliding the pieces on the playing surface. The table is provided with a gutter area extending around the playing surface adapted to receive those pieces which are improperly slid. Various embodiments are also disclosed which provide variations of the scoring target around the stakes at each end of the playing surface.

United States Patent [151 3,640,535

Gendler Feb. 8, 1972 [54] HORSESHOE GAME DEVICE WITH RECESSED STAKE AREAS Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown l72] Inventor. Irvin F. Gendler, Omaha. Nebr. Amrmy zafley' McKee & Thom:

[73] Assignee: Daniel F. Murphey, Omaha, Nebr.

22 Filed: June 30. 1969 [57] ABSIMCT A game device of the horseshoe type comprising, a supported [21] Appl' 837373 table having an elongated flat playing surface provided thereon adapted to have horseshoelike pieces slid thereon Cl 2 B from one end to the other. A stake extends upwardly above ll".- CL s the surface at each end hereof to p escnt a scoring [58] Field of Search ..273/54, 100, l is, 126 R, I27 target for the Pam" sliding the pieces on he playing surface The table is provided with a gutter area extending around the [56] Cned playing surface adapted to receive those pieces which are im- UNITED STATES PATENTS properly slid. Various embodiments are also disclosed which provide variations of the scoring target around the stakes at Edmunds I each end of [he urface 2,576,326 ll/l95l ..................273/l26 2,590,444 3/1952 Millman et al ..273/5 X 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I-IORSESIIOE GAME DEVICE WITH RECESSED STAKE AREAS A principal object of this invention is to provide a game device of the horseshoe type.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device which involves the concept of horseshoes but which does not require that horseshoes be actually thrown.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device wherein horseshoes are slid from one end of the playing surface to another towards scoring targets.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device which requires efi'icient skill so as to provide an interesting game.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device which occupies a minimum of space.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device of the horseshoe type which is challenging.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device of the horseshoe type which may be played by a plurality of players.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game device of the horseshoe type which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game device of this inven tion;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the game device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a modified form of the game device;

FIG. 5 is a top view of still another modified form of the game device; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of still another modified form of the game device.

The game device of this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Modified forms of the game device are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and are generally designated by the reference numerals 12, I4 and 16, respectively.

Game 10 includes a table portion 18 which is supported by a plurality of downwardly extending legs 20. Legs 20 include levelling devices 22 to permit the table portion 18 to be levelled with respect to the supporting surface 24. Table portion 18 includes upstanding ends 26 and 28 and upstanding sides 30 and 32.

An elongated flat member 34 is provided on the table portion 18 between the sides and ends thereof and includes ends 36 and 38 and sides 40 and 42. The top portion of the member 34 defines a playing surface 44. As also seen in FIG. I, member 34 extends upwardly from the top 46 of table portion 18 to define a gutter area extending around the playing surface.

Member 34 is provided with a circularlike opening extending downwardly therethrough adjacent end 36. Member 34 is also provided with an opening 50 which communicates with opening 48 and which extends to end 36 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Opening 50 is provided with an under cut area 52 which is best illustrated in FIG. 3 which is positioned immediately above surface 46 so as to provide opening 50 with a width ad jacent its lower end which is greater than that at its upper end.

The stake 54 extends upwardly from table portion 18 in the center of opening 48 and extends above playing surface 44 as illustrated in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 2, a scoring line or circle may be provided on the playing surface 44 which extends around the opening 48 so as to permit various scoring possihilities.

A stake 54' extends upwardly through opening 48' adjacent end 38 and is identical to that structure adjacent end 36. Opening 50 extends from opening 48' towards end 28 while an under cut area 52' is provided below opening 50'. Scoring ring 56' extends around opening 48' as also illustrated in FIG. 2.

Preferably, the game is provided with a conventional coinoperated timer generally designated by the reference numeral 58. Timer 58 when supplied with the proper amount of coins, will cause the scoreboard 60 to be lit so that the players may record their scores thereon during the progress of the game. Scoreboard 60 may be of any suitable conventional design and is preferably activated by switches 62 and 62' conveniently located on the table portion 18 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. The numeral 64 generally designates the horseshoelike pieces which may be slid from one end of the playing surface to the other as will be explained later.

The game 12 illustrated in FIG. 4 is substantially identical to game 10 of FIG. I except that the opening surrounding the stake has been modified somewhat. In FIG. 4, stake 66 and 66' extend upwardly through circular openings 68 and 68' respectively. Scoring circles 70 and 70' extend around the openings 68 and 68' as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5, elongated openings 72 and 72' extend inwardly from the opposite ends of the playing surface and extend around the stakes 74 and 74'. Scoring lines 76 and 76' extend around the stakes 74 and 74' as illustrated in FIG. 5. The openings 72 and 72 are substantially U-shaped and the configuration of these openings is the only difference between game 14 and the games 10 and I2.

In FIG. 6, a further modification of the game is seen wherein the stakes 78 and 78' extend upwardly from the playing surface and do not have any form of opening extending therearound. The playing surface is merely provided with scoring circles 80 and 80' extending around the stakes 78 and 78' respectively.

The object of each of the games disclosed herein is to provide a challenging and interesting game which requires a certain amount of skill to accumulate sufficient points to win. For example, in game 10, the players would alternately slide the pieces 64 from end 36 towards the stake 54'. After all of the pieces have been slid from one end to the other, the players would move to the other end of the table to slide the pieces back towards the other end. If four players are participating, two players could remain at each end of the game device. A predetermined number of points may be rewarded for striking the stakes while a predetermined number of points may be rewarded for positioning a piece 64 within the scoring lines 56 or 56'. A ringcr" will be rewarded with the highest number of points. The openings 48 and 48' are preferably such that only those pieces which ring" the stake will pass downwardly thereinto. The pieces may be easily removed from the openings 48 and 48' by simply sliding the pieces outwardly through under cut areas 52 and 52 respectively. The gutter area surrounding the playing surface 44 receives those pieces which are slid incorrectly and removes the same from play. After all of the pieces are thrown from one end to the other, the score is computed and registered on the scoreboard 60 by means of the switches 62 or 62'.

The games l2, l4 and 16 are similarly played and merely provide modifications of the scoring areas and openings which extend around the stakes. In games 10, I2 and I4, the openings extending around the stakes seem to present the most fascinating aspect of the games due to the inherent challenge of requiring that the piece be perfectly slid so that it "rings" the stake to permit it to enter the opening. A ringer is further emphasized by the fact that the piece 64 disappears from the player's immediate view.

Thus it can be seen that a unique game device has been disclosed which is easily played but which requires sufficient skill and dexterity on the part of the players. The games disclosed herein are such that interest therein does not quickly diminish but which seems to increase as the game is played. Thus it can be seen that the games of this invention accomplish at least all of their stated objectives.

Iclaim:

I. A game device, comprising,

an elongated, flat playing surface having opposite ends and sides, and a stake means extending upwardly above said playing surfaces adjacent each of said opposite ends adapted to present a scoring target for horseshoelike pieces being slid on said playing surface from one end to the other end,

said playing surface being surrounded by a recessed gutter area adapted to receive improperly slid pieces,

said playing surface having a cutout area extending around each of said stakes adapted to receive pieces therein,

each of said cutout areas being substantially U-shaped and extending around said stake and thence outwardly to the end of the playing surface adjacent thereto.

2. A game device, comprising,

an elongated, flat playing surface having opposite ends and i sides, and a stake means extending upwardly above said playing surfaces adjacent each of said opposite ends adapted to presentia scoring target for horseshoelike pieces being slid on said playing surface from one end to the other end,

said playing surface being surrounded by a recessed gutter area adapted to receive improperly slid pieces,

said playing surface having a cutout area extending around each of said stakes adapted to receive pieces therein.

each of said cutout areas comprising a first circularlike opening extending around the stake. a second opening communicating with said first opening and extending to the end of the playing surface.

3, The game device of claim 2 wherein said playing surface has an undercut area immediately below said second opening which communicates with said first opening and which extends to the end of the playing surface.

# i t i i 

1. A game device, comprising, an elongated, flat playing surface having opposite ends and sides, and a stake means extending upwardly above said playing surfaces adjacent each of said opposite ends adapted to present a scoring target for horseshoelike pieces being slid on said playing surface from one end to the other end, said playing surface being surrounded by a recessed gutter area adapted to receive improperly slid pieces, said playing surface having a cutout area extending around each of said stakes adapted to receive pieces therein, each of said cutout areas being substantially U-shaped and extending around said stake and thence outwardly to the end of the playing surface adjacent thereto.
 2. A game device, comprising, an elongated, flat playing surface having opposite ends and sides, and a stake means extending upwardly above said playing surfaces adjacent each of said opposite ends adapted to present a scoring target for horseshoelike pieces being slid on said playing surface from one end to the other end, said playing surface being surrounded by a recessed gutter area adapted to receive improperly slid pieces, said playing surface having a cutout area extending around each of said stakes adapted to receive pieces therein, each of said cutout areas comprising a first circularlike opening extending around the stake, a second opening communicating with said first opening and extending to the end of the playing surface.
 3. The game device of claim 2 wherein said playing surface has an undercut area immediately below said second opening which communicates with said first opening and which extends to the end of the playing surface. 